Musings, on life, universe and the daily small happenings within our 'compound' (the hothouse) concerning writing, music, gardening and jam making, etc. katehardy25@gmail.com

Thursday, 18 June 2015

Songs of Life No 6

I couldn't find a youtube film but actually I think this song is best listened to with eyes shut, preferably lying down and letting the past - good and bad - sloosh around in your mind.

I had left London at this point in my life, and hurled myself into the unknown: big relationship mess- up, new work in a Midlands city, and had abandoned my London flat for a room with a view of an unloved scrap of land in a shared house that smelt of old fags and too many fry-ups.

I had dragged my few possessions up to the second floor, painted the room black and installed my wardrobe-sized Wharfdale speakers. Many hours passed in a not-unpleasant sort of grey melancholia while the rain slanted on my window; hours spent figuring out this new life and vaguely analysing what had happened in the last few weeks.

I'd played to a pulp, all the other The The albums, and this one, bought just before I left, seemed to be strangely akin to what I was feeling; in particular this track. Great heart-felt lyrics; wonderful choice of instruments, particularly the bass (I think) clarinet; distant piano teemed with echoing, distant human howls and scuffling snare drum.